Queensbridge Park

PARKS REFINES MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The Parks Inspection Program (PIP), born in 1997, is widely credited within Parks for increasing accountability and information, enabling a surge of park improvements. The overall condition and cleanliness of New York City’s parks rose rapidly in the years from 1997 to the present. Since its creation, the program has been supported by a series of monthly meetings that bring borough and citywide representatives to the same table to review ratings and plan a response. In May of 2001, the structure of these ParkStat meetings received an overhaul. The expanded version, ParkStat Plus+, incorporates a review of Technical Services, Parks Enforcement Patrol, Fleet Operations, Capital Projects, and Personnel activity in the borough as well as a review of PIP ratings.

ParkStat Plus+ is one of several initiatives whose aim is to improve parks and public spaces by emphasizing new management strategies. First Deputy Commissioner Alan (Northside) Moss, Director of Field Operations Jake (Red Rock) Cooper, and ParkStat Plus+ Coordinator James (Stroker) Sattler lead the program, which is modeled on the New York Police Department’s successful initiative, CompStat.

Meetings last 2 hours and 15 minutes and are driven by a series of questions, for which the SPMOs are asked to prepare. Questions range from, "How many small parks does your district include" to "What are the capital construction projects currently underway in your district?" These demanding meetings have been likened to open book tests, but their true strength derives less from the evaluative information gathered and more from the new lines of communication that are established.

The diverse representation of Parkies, in combination with an analysis of facts and figures, facilitated problem solving. For example, inspections of the Bronx’s Bill Rainey Park showed evidence of dogs running off-leash and other illegal activity. PEP statistics, however, revealed a paucity of summonses issued in the park. At a ParkStat Plus+ meeting, PEP decided to detail a plainclothes officer to Bill Rainey Park to enforce dog regulations.

The result of these problem-solving sessions are already visible. Queensbridge Park in Queens sports new bollards and signage as a result of a ParkStat Plus+ meeting in which Maintenance and Operations, PEP, and Technical Services conspired to solve a problem of illegally parked cars documented both in park inspections and in a spike in parking summonses.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Friday, January 6, 1989)

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: MANHATTAN PARKS

Manhattan Parks in 1988 was busy with cleaning and greening
projects of all sizes and in all seasons. "5x5" projects, ParksElargest,
self-funded, intensive maintenance campaign in decades, continued to spruce
up five parks in each borough in 1988, Manhattan "5x5"s were completed
at Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island: Fort Washington, East River, Jackie
Robinson and Inwood Hill Parks; and at the Al Smith and Marcus Garvey Recreation
Centers.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"A point of view can be a dangerous luxury
when substituted for insight and understanding."

Park Information

Directions to Queensbridge Park

Starting Address

I am traveling by:

Know Before You Go

There are currently 2 service interruptions affecting access within this park.

Queensbridge Park

The restoration of the Queensbridge Park seawall will restore waterfront access for the community. The project will reconstruct the seawall using rip rap revetment made up of large rocks which will to protect the shoreline by absorbing and deflecting waves while lessening the effects of erosion. The project will also feature a six foot wide promenade with benches along the waterfront. The northern end of the promenade will feature a small “wharf-like” area at the northern end of the promenade that projects over the water. Some areas adjacent to the promenade will be planted with shrubs.Anticipated Completion: Spring 2014

Queensbridge Park

The restoration of the Queensbridge Park seawall will restore waterfront access for the community. The project will reconstruct the seawall using rip rap revetment made up of large rocks which will to protect the shoreline by absorbing and deflecting waves while lessening the effects of erosion. The project will also feature a six foot wide promenade with benches along the waterfront. The northern end of the promenade will feature a small “wharf-like” area at the northern end of the promenade that projects over the water. Some areas adjacent to the promenade will be planted with shrubs.Anticipated Completion: Spring 2014